Lyra will play Leisureland tonight, Thursday, November 7. She tells DANIEL O'NEILL about her 'Love Lyra Tour', the launch of her debut album, her hopes and dreams for the future, and the joy of beating Beyoncé in the album charts.
Reflecting on her eponymous debut album, released earlier this year, LYRA, aka Laura McNamara, says the day her album dropped was one of the best days of her life. Her album Lyra went to Number 1 in Ireland, dethroning Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter.
"I rang my label, and I was like: 'Who else is bringing out their physical albums the same week as mine?' And they're like: 'Yeah, Beyonce's physical album is actually coming out the same day as yours'. So I kind of just enjoyed the week thinking, well - this is never going to happen!
"When Beyonce's physical album comes out she's definitely going to sell more than me, so that's why I decided to have loads of fun with it. I thought I might as well have the craic. And then when it actually happened, I think I was in such shock, it didn't actually register for about two days. And then I just cried horrendously. Ireland did me proud."
When talking about tonight's gig in Leisureland, the Cork woman says that after her previous Galway show she had to come back.
"When I went to Leisureland, I just bloody loved it. The audience were on fire and it was a sold-out night. The stage is fantastic there, so there's plenty of room for really bad dancing.
"I really felt like it was a kind of a moment for both me and the audience. So I [decided] I most definitely have to go back."
LYRA also revealed that there will be some fun surprises on the tour, including performing an unreleased song. "I'm all about giving back. When people spend money to come to my tour, I want to always give something to them. So this tour, I'm actually singing an unreleased song that's coming up next year that I'm literally obsessed with."
LYRA added that in the next five years she hopes to release two more albums, and wants to share a side of her that people haven't seen yet.
"I really want to keep the momentum going. I've been writing a lot of songs between the summer shows and these shows. They're not a new me, but they're the me that people haven't fully seen. They got a taste of her with songs like Queen and Drink me up. I want to show people the fun, wild Lyra; the Lyra who is living life to the max, and has had some great experiences.
"I know people will ask: 'can you get any more wild?' Well yes, I can. I think album two is going to be that."
LYRA says she would not be where she is now without her biggest supporters, her parents. "If it wasn't for them, realistically, I wouldn't be doing this right now. They never made me have a plan B or a Plan C. They always said [performing] has always been your lifelong dream. Go for it as hard as you can until you decide what you want to do. It's just been a long journey for all of us, and it's so nice to share together."
Tickets €33 from www.monroes.ie
